May 17, 2010

Pine Lake Camp Ground. We woke this morning to ice on the inside of the camper shell windows, I guess it got cold last night. Joe gets a fire going and I make a pot of hot, black, stout coffee. We pack the truck, pick up the campsite, dowse the fire and get back on the Alcan. Our next stop will be Tok, Alaska, USA.

North bound on the Alcan, 0900, Joe behind the wheel at km post 1618, a Wolf crossed the road in front of us. This guy is big and there is no way to confuse him with a dog.

Northbound on the Alcan, noon-thirty, Joe is still driving, north of Destruction Bay @ km post 1724, we spot a large grizzly bear on the west side of the road. Joe stopped the truck and I got out to take pictures. It turns out this is a female grizzly and she is intent on digging for grubs or roots. I was able to get several good photos of her, as were several other travelers who stopped.

At 1457 hrs (2:57 P.M ADT) we finally cross the border into Alaska! Although it was anticlimactic; a muddy road, traffic cones, a construction worker and a home made looking sign reading, Alaska, stapled to a post. I exaggerate, but not by much; the sign was actually bolted to a post.

5:30 P.M. ( I don't want to confuse anyone with navy time) we make it to Tok,(rhymes with smoke) Alaska. We stop in at a few of the local campgrounds, but the rates are higher than we can afford, so we decide to head to the state campground a few miles south of town. On the way out of town we find one more local campground and decide to check their prices. It turns out the campground was just opening for their first season and we would be their first customer. The rate was very affordable, the showers were great and the area was quiet. We made camp, took our showers and fixed supper. Our first night back in the U.S., at the Alaskan Stoves RV Park, where the owners are friendly, the showers are clean and roomy and the trees offer abundant shade.